Cost performance analysis of water damages for sustainable prevention measures

Water damage in homes and buildings can cause moisture problems such as mold growth and negative health effects for residents. The water damage from building services not only affects the indoor environment but leads to costs for society both in Sweden and other countries. This paper aims to make a cost analysis to attain an estimate of the cost of water damages to society. The analysis is based on insurance reimbursements, deductibles, depreciation, and age reduction costs for water damages in both residential and non-residential buildings. The results showed that the estimated cost in Sweden amounts to 955 M€ annually. The economic impact that originates from water damages is shown to be immense meaning, there is economic potential for sustainable prevention measures to reduce the amount and cost of water damages.